Metroflor Atrraxion LVP Maintenance and Care
GENERAL CARE & MAINTENANCE FOR
METROFLOR PRODUCTS
Metroflor produces a wide range of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floors that
range from traditional glue down LVT to waterproof multilayer floating
floors for residential and commercial applications. Regardless of the type
of Metroflor floor, proper care and maintenance is key to achieving the
maximum performance and value from your flooring purchase.
Metroflor's LVT is manufactured with a high-performance, protective
coating. This highly durable floor covering does not require any floor
finish or buffing in most applications. All floor coverings require some
care to look their best, and many problems can be prevented before
they occur. The area of usage, type of traffic, and frequency of traffic
on the floor will determine the type and frequency of maintenance
needed. Proper care and maintenance are an essential part of keeping
your Metroflor flooring attractive and safe. These guidelines will help to
maintain the appearance of and extend the life of your Metroflor flooring.
FLOOR-CARE BEST PRACTICES
• Sweep or vacuum daily; use only vacuums without beater bars.
• Do not use steam cleaners/mops.
• Protect the floor from tracked-in dirt and grit particles by using walk-off mats at all outside entrances.
• Avoid the use of rubber-backed mats, as certain rubber compounds
can permanently stain vinyl.
• In order to prevent indentations and scratches, provide glass, plastic,
felt, or other non-staining cups with flat under-surfaces not less than
2" wide for the legs of heavy furniture or appliances. Equip swiveled type office chairs and other rolling furniture with broad-surface, non-staining casters at least 2” in diameter. Remove small diameter buttons
from the legs of straight chairs and replace with metal or felt glides that
have bearing surfaces no less than 1" in diameter.
• Always use the proper equipment… such as the accessories sold at
www.1877floorguy.com (independent website)... to protect the flooring
from damage that could be caused by the moving of heavy fixtures or
appliances.
• Use micro-fiber mops for wet cleaning and never use anything coarser
than 3M-equivalent red cleaning pads or brushes on Metroflor's resilient
flooring (see Maintenance Procedures section).
• Protect your floor against burns. Burns from the glowing end of
cigarettes, matches, or other extremely hot items can damage Metroflor
floors.
• Do not flood floor or subject to frequent standing water.
• Only use Prevail cleaning products, as they are designed for Luxury
Vinyl Tile (LVT) floors with urethane coatings.
• All Metroflor floors have good resistance to stains and are not affected
by most common spills. However, any spill should be cleaned up
immediately. The longer the spilled materials are left on the floor, the
greater the risk of permanently staining the floor. For information
regarding the proper method or solution to use on a specific stain,
contact Metroflor Customer Service toll-free at 888-235-6672.
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The use of
drapes or blinds is recommended during peak sunlight hours. Prolonged
exposure to direct sunlight can result in discoloration, and excessive
temperatures might cause tiles or planks to expand
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
Safety: When performing wet maintenance, always use caution. Provide
proper signage and prohibit traffic until the floor is completely dry. When
using electrical equipment, follow electrical equipment manufacturer's
safety instructions.
NO-POLISHING/NO-BUFFING MAINTENANCE OPTIONS
Initial Maintenance for a Newly Installed floor
1. For glue down installations, allow the adhesive to cure for at least
48 hours prior to wet-cleaning the floor. Floating floor installations
can be walked on immediately after installation.
2. For all floor types, thoroughly sweep, dust-mop, or vacuum (without
beater bar assembly) the floor to remove all loose dirt, dust, grit,
and debris.
3. For glue down installations, remove any dried adhesive-residue
from the surface with Prevail 1-Step Neutral Cleaner, or with mineral
spirits applied to a clean, lint-free cloth. Do not allow excessive
amounts of solvent to sit on the vinyl or to penetrate the joints of
the flooring. NEVER APPLY SOLVENT DIRECTLY TO FLOORING.
4. For all floor types, damp-mop the floor using a micro fiber mop
and Prevail 1-Step Neutral Cleaner.
5. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or with a clean mop and allow the
floor to dry completely.
DAILY/ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
1. Clean entryway walk-off mats to remove dirt, grit, sand and other
contaminants from being tracked onto the floor (as needed).
2. Thoroughly sweep, dust-mop, or vacuum (without beater bar
assembly) the floor to remove all loose dirt, dust, grit, and debris
that can stick to and damage the surface of the floor.
3. Spills should be cleaned up immediately. Spot-clean using Prevail
1-Step Neutral Cleaner and micro fiber or preferred mop.
4. Damp-mop the floor on a regular (recommended - daily) basis
using Prevail 1-Step Neutral Cleaner.
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE
1. For heavily soiled floors it may be necessary to scrub the floor using
an auto scrubber or rotary machine (175 rpm or less) with Prevail
1-Step Neutral Cleaner, using the proper dilution ratio. Fit the buffer
with a 3M-equivalent red or white scrubbing pad and work the
solution over the floor.
2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or with a clean mop and allow the
floor to dry completely.
ALTERNATIVE MAINTENANCE OPTIONS FOR
COMMERCIAL AND HEAVY USAGE AREAS ON
GLUE DOWN PLANK & TILE ONLY
Alternative maintenance options provide end-users with the flexibility of
using different methods to maintain their floors, based upon the needs
of the area of usage. Metroflor LVT traditional glue down floors may be
maintained using the Prevail Finish Option or the Spray Buff Option, as
detailed below.
PREVAIL FINISH OPTION
1. After completing Steps 1 and 2 under the “Initial Maintenance for
a Newly-Installed Floor” section, scrub the floor using an auto
scrubber or rotary machine (175 rpm or less) with Prevail 1-Step
Neutral Cleaner, using the proper dilution ratio. Fit the buffer with
a 3M-equivalent red or white scrubbing pad and work the solution
over the floor to remove contamination and promote adhesion.
2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or with a clean mop and allow the
floor to dry completely.
3. Apply two or more coats of Prevail Matte or Gloss Finish.
4. Apply additional coats of floor finish (only as needed). Refer to
Prevail Floor Finish label.
SPRAY BUFF OPTION
1. After completing Steps 1 and 2 under the “Initial Maintenance for
a Newly-Installed Floor” section, machine-scrub the floor with
Prevail 1-Step Neutral Cleaner, using the proper dilution ratio. Fit the
buffer with a 3M-equivalent red or white scrubbing pad and work
the solution over the floor to remove contamination and promote
adhesion.
2. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or with a clean mop and allow the
floor to dry completely.
3. Using a handheld spray-bottle with Prevail Matte or Gloss Finish,
and working in small areas (10 x10 foot), lightly mist the floor and
buff using an auto scrubber or rotary machine (175 rpm or less)
fitted with a 3M-equivalent red pad.
4. Routine (recommended - daily) and periodic maintenance should
be performed, as stated in above sections.
5. Machine-scrubbing should always be conducted prior to spray
buffing.
RESTORATIVE MAINTENANCE
1. Mix Prevail Vinyl Stripper solution per instruction-label. Blockade
and set up caution signs. Using a clean, string mop, apply liberal
amounts of solution onto the floor and allow to soak per the
instructions. Rewet if necessary.
2. Using a low speed machine (175 rpm or less), scrub the floor with a
scrubbing brush or pad equivalent to a 3M red pad.
3. Use a wet-vacuum or a clean mop to remove the dirty stripping
solution. If the floor begins to dry, it may be necessary to drizzle
fresh, clean water onto the stripper solution to remove it.
4. Thoroughly rinse the entire floor with fresh, clean water. Remove the
dirty residue with a wet-vacuum or with a clean mop and allow the
floor to dry completely.
5. Next, start over by following the Prevail Finish Option.
AUTOMATIC SCRUBBERS
Automatic scrubbers come in walk-behind and ride-on styles with some
being compact for hard-to-reach areas around equipment or fixed
seating. Auto Scrubbers are efficient, safe and cost effective delivering
substantial time savings compared to the mop and bucket method of
floor maintenance.
HEALTHCARE MAINTENANCE
DAILY MAINTENANCE BETWEEN SURGICAL PROCEDURES
1. Follow the specific Infection Control and Standard Operating
Procedures for facility.
2. Pick up and discard all loose waste and debris into trash receptacle.
3. Disinfect the floor using a microfiber mop with a properly diluted
EPA registered disinfectant cleaner. Maintain the wet surface for the
required dwell time in accordance with cleaner instructions.
4. Allow the floor to air dry before resuming use of the room.
CAUTION: Strictly follow maintenance procedures to contain and confine
pathogens in order to prevent contamination across the operating room
or cross contamination from room to room. Follow all Infection Control
and Standard Operating Procedures for your facility.
NOTE: It is important to perform end of day cleaning as floor disinfectants
do not provide the same level of cleaning efficacy and emulsification
of soiling. Over time, disinfectant cleaner residue will build up and can
cause slippery or sticky surfaces or discoloration to the flooring that can
be very difficult to remove.
NOTES: STAIN REMOVAL
To remove stubborn spots and stains from Metroflor's floors, always begin with mild cleaners, such as Prevail 1-Step Neutral Cleaner. If such cleaners fail to remove the spots
and stains, and “if permitted,” use mineral spirits. Do not use harsh solvents, such as lacquer thinner or straight acetone, as these can permanently soften and damage the vinyl
surface.
For stubborn spots and stains (such as paints, permanent markers, and dyes), and “if permitted,” try applying fingernail polish remover containing acetone (do not use straight
acetone) to a soft cloth and rubbing across the affected areas. Subsequent to this cleaning procedure for stubborn spots and stains, please clean the affected area with clear
water to remove any residue. Any damage resulting from the use of pure solvents IS NOT covered by Metroflor's warranties. Always test stronger cleaning agents on sample
pieces or in unnoticeable areas first.
Never use a brush or pad more aggressive than a 3M red equivalent. Blue, Green, Brown and Black pads will damage the surface of the floor
